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Adapted from a Marvel Comics series, this offbeat superhero adventure gets a lot of satirical mileage from subverting the Spider-Man fantasy of a high school loser who discovers a mighty alter ego. When the young protagonist (Aaron Johnson) dons a green wet suit and ventures into the streets of New York City as the righteous Kick-Ass, he's promptly stabbed in the stomach and hit by a car. The Clark Kent/Peter Parker cliche of the hero striking out with women in his daily life gets a bitter twist as well when the kid returns to school, learns that his injuries have won him the reputation of being a gay cruiser, and is adopted as a politically correct platonic pal by the girl he adores (Lyndsy Fonseca). Less interesting but already more remarked upon are the movie's calculated transgressions, which include a foul-mouthed 11-year-old crime fighter (Chloe Moretz) and plenty of graphic violence. This is the ultimate fanboy product: pitched at children, rated for adults, and destined for epic DVD sales. Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake, Stardust) directed; with Nicolas Cage.
ByJ.R. Jones